Area youth attend Sixth Annual Franklin High Alumni Football Camp

On Saturday, the Sixth Annual Franklin High School Alumuni Football Camp was held with over 70 youngsters from the area receiving instructions through classroom mentoring sessions and outdoor football fundamental drills for free at the camp.
Camp Director Jay Ina stated he was pleased with the turnout of the camp and the opportunity to put the camp on for six straight years.
“Today is our sixth annual Franklin High Football Alumini Camp,” Ina stated. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to do it for six years in a row and I am pleased with the turnout. I counted 72 or 73 campers and I’ m pleased with the turnout of the alumni.”
Ina took time to thank the sponsors of the camp, mentioning the two main sponsors.
“None of this could be done without the sponsorship of Drs. Keidra and Marcus Spencer and the 100 Black Men of St. Mary,” he replied. “Drs. Keidra and Marcus Spencer have been instrumental since day one in providing the funding, because there is some cost involved in putting on a free camp along with the 100 Black Men of St. Mary because both are dedicated and have promised that we will always have this camp which is a blessing,” Ina said. “We have had other sponsors along the way but those have been our main two who have allowed us to put this camp on free of charge which is a unique camp as we provide every camper with a T-Shirt and we feed them breakfast and we feed them lunch and we provide mentoring _ which is different than most camps because we are not only concerned with the athletic and physical aspect but we are also concerned with the mental aspect and the mentoring is a very, very important part of it.”
Ina also made known he would like to see the “place packed out” because of the opportunity provided free of charge.
“I am pleased with the turnout but I would love to see this place packed out one day because we provide transportation _ we ran a bus this morning through several areas in Franklin and Baldwin so we will continue doing it every year God sparing and we hope to pack it out one year.”
Saturday’s camp opened with breakfast before campers were ushered into the FHS Auditorium to listen to inspiring talks from Jay Ina, Reginald Weary, Edward Jones and Ed “Tiger” Verdin.
The FHS Alumuni Football Camp _ for ages 6 to 17 _ later offered instructions in mentoring sessions in the school’s boys and girls gyms along with the cafeteria and a classroom.
“We start at age 6 and we go to age 17 and we break them up into age groups and when we go outside it is better to break them up skill wise to give them an opportunity to work with kids with the same ability level,” Ina said. “One unique thing about our camp is that every kid will get a chance to get instruction at every position - just because you’re a fast guy, you get a chance to get instructions at being a linemen or blocker and the bigger players get a chance at being a quarterback.”
Campers also received hands on experience in the fundamentals of football on the soft grass of J. C. Dry Stadium before lunch was provided.
Ina’s biggest hope for those attending the camp is that they know they are loved.
“My biggest hope is for them to know that we care and we love them and we aim to make a difference in their life,” Ina said. “I know how influential coaches were when I was coming up, there have been coaches that have been mentors in my life that have made a difference and I will never forget. We are hoping to let them know that our community cares and we care and we love and we want do all that we can to help.”